Gotta go fast with this blast from the past! Sonic Origins raced its way onto PC just in time to blow out the candles on the blue blur’s 31st birthday.
With the massive success of Sonic’s two forays into live-action cinema, this game arrived just in time to educate a whole new generation on the history of Sega’s mascot.
90’s Nostalgia For a New Generation
Sonic Origins is a compilation containing remasters of Sonic’s early 90s adventures. It includes the original Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles. Playing as the titular blue blur, his yellow fox friend Tails, or red rival Knuckles the Echidna in any of the games, speed through side-scrolling platforming to collect rings, Chaos Emeralds, and stop Doctor Robotnik.
It’s classic Sonic gaming, the kind that had him and Mario at loggerheads for nearly a decade. Whether you’re an old fan looking for a fresh excuse to return to a childhood favourite or a newcomer looking to understand some of the movies’ references better, Sonic Origins packs the anthropomorphic speedster’s best into one title.
New Takes for Classic Games
Not content with just bringing these four games together, Sega has been sure to stock Sonic Origins with extra features to make this trip down memory lane worth the journey.
Classic Mode and Anniversary Mode
If you’re a purist when it comes to retro gaming, then you will love Sonic Origins’ Classic Mode. The gameplay is unchanged from the originals and is even presented in 4:3 aspect ratio. Anniversary Mode offers a different experience, supporting widescreen displays and removing lives so there’s less pressure if you’re struggling with a level (looking at you, Labyrinth Zone). It also adds in the Drop Dash introduced in Sonic Mania, a quick-to-charge version of the Spin Dash that helps clear gaps without slowing down.
All-New Story Mode
The new Story Mode that Sonic Origins boasts may just be the best way for new players to experience these classics for the first time. In this mode, you can only play as Sonic the Hedgehog. You will go through each of the four games in sequence, experiencing the story in order. As anyone who played a game in the early 90s will tell you, storytelling wasn’t what it is these days. That’s why original animated cutscenes have been added in to bridge each game’s story.
Modes to Challenge Yourself
Once you’ve exhausted playing the games as intended, Sonic Origins has more ways to keep you entertained. First is a boss rush mode for you to take on all of Doctor Robotnik’s most menacing machines in succession. Then there’s mirror mode, which lets you tackle levels in reverse. Finally, there’s mission mode, challenging you to complete objectives and stretch your Sonic skills.
Is Sonic Origins a PC Exclusive?
When you’re as speedy as Sonic the Hedgehog, it’s hard to stay contained to a single platform. Sonic Origins is available not only on PC, but also on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Series X/S, plus PS4 and PS5. It is available to purchase and download from June 23rd 2022.
Sonic Origins Official PC System Requirements
Speed, power, skill – that’s what Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails each bring to the table, and it’s what you want to make sure your gaming PC has too. We have the official system specifications for Sonic Origins here so you can make sure your computer isn’t “too slow”!
| Component | Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-2400 AMD FX-8350 | Intel Core i5-4570 AMD Ryzen 3 1300X |
| Memory | 6GB RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 AMD Radeon HD 7790 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 AMD Radeon R9 280 |
The Best Gaming PCs to Play Sonic Origins
Does your gaming PC have what it takes to keep up with Sonic and friends? He lives by the motto of “gotta go fast”, and here at Overclockers UK that’s something we can relate to. If you’ve got the need for speed, we’ve got the gaming PCs and laptops to help. Here are a few of our favourite ultra-fast machines, but you can explore the full range should these not be up to Sonic’s speed.
Refract Gaming Celeste
Show your love for the blue blur with a gaming PC whose aesthetic matches your fandom. The Refract Gaming Celeste doesn’t just feature gorgeous blue RGB lighting, but also everything you need to play other great AAA titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Starfield. Refract Gaming PCs are designed for you to simply plug in and play out of the box. With its AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, the Celeste does just that. In addition to that, all our Refract Gaming PCs come with a three-year parts and labour warranty plus the option for next-day delivery. That’s speed to make Sonic proud!
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Gaming Laptop
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 has everything you need to elevate your game for Sonic Origins – even on the go. It features a powerful AMD Ryzen R7-7735HS CPU that lets you take advantage of multicore technology. Built with eight cores and sixteen threads, it’s like your games are being powered by a speed boost item! With its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, you can unlock superior graphical prowess and enjoy the updated visuals of these remastered classics in stunning detail. Latency won’t be an issue for you either, with both 16GB DDR5 RAM and an NVMe drive providing tight timings and read/write speeds to rival those of Sonic!
OcUK Gaming Katana Configurable PC
The OcUK Gaming Katana is a powerhouse of processing power. This gaming PC features an Intel Core i7 14700KF CPU with innovative hybrid core technology. That means you can effortlessly play, stream, and chat all at once, with Intel Thread Director ensuring the right core is on the job! What’s more, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super GPU unlocks stunning 4K resolution powered by all the latest NVIDIA advances. Plus, the Katana packs flexible storage options that includes up to three high-speed SSDs, available in a range of capacities.
How Will You Play?
Which is your favourite game mode from Sonic Origins? Let us know in the comments below.
PC specs are subject to change.
- 6 min read
Jacob Smith
Author
Jacob is a passionate gamer, plus a noted Pokemon and LEGO nutjob, who emerges only when doing the words here at Overclockers UK. Since starting at the tail end of 2021, Jacob has gone on to write dozens of blogs on everything from the latest games to whimsical Dickens-inspired poetry. Outside of creating content and being the one person in the office daring to champion Nintendo, he is often found fawning over his Pokemon card collection and his trio of lovely doggos.
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